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A scene in the gamester

Object type

Museum number

J,3.80

Title (object)

A scene in the gamester

Description

The Duke and Duchess of York face each other, a small table between them; he sits (left), with his hands clasped and resting on the table; she stands (right), a small jewel-box in her left hand, holding out to him a string of jewels. A paper inscribed '17,000 . . .' lies on the table beside the Duke, whose words are etched above his head:

'Henceforth my follies and neglects shall cease And all to come be penitence and peace, Vice shall no more atract me with her Charms, Nor pleasure reach me, but in those dear arms.'

She says, "My Jewels? trifles! not worth the speaking of, if weigh'd against a husband's peace; but let 'em purchase that, and the world's wealth is of less value". She wears the Duke's miniature round her neck. Behind her is a chest of drawers, the top drawer open and full of jewels. On it stands a small coffer of jewels, marked with the Prussian eagle. Beneath the design is etched:

'Ye slaves of passion, and ye dupes of chance, Wake all your powers from this destructive trance! Shake off the shackles of this tyrant vice : Hear other calls than those of card and dice Be learn'd in nobler arts than arts of Play, And other debts than those of Honor Pay. No longer live insensible to Shame Lost to your country, families, and fame.' 8 February 1792.Hand-coloured etching

Dimensions

Inscriptions

Inscription Content

Curator's comments

(Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938) The Duke of York's marriage was popular, cf. BMSat 8057. For the Duke as a slave to gaming, see BMSat 7301 (5); for his debts to tradesmen, BMSat 7914.